Skylight



(No Mode l.)

J. N. SMITH.

SKYLIGHT.

No. 403,227. Patented May 14, 1889.

1' tweomw UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE.

JOHN N. SMITH, or DUBLIN, GEORGIA.

SKYLIGHT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,227, dated May 14, 1889.

Application filed December 12, 1888. Serial No. 293,395. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

7 Be it known that I, JOHN N. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dublin, in the county of Laurens and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Skylights, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in skylights, and has for its object the provision of an article which shall be simple and durable in construction, cheap of manufacture, and effective in operation; and to these ends the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

The invention further consists in the provision of an improved skylight wherein, should one or a number of the glass panes or lights become broken or otherwise unfit for use, a new one or ones maybe readily and easily inserted without interrupting or in any manner disturbing the position or equality of the remaining ones.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved skylight. Fig.2 is an enlarged detail View of the clip or spider employed for holding the panes in position, and Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a portion of two panes with my improved clip or spider in use thereon.

Referring to the drawings,A designates a skylight having a frame consisting of side bars, a a, and end bars, a 60 the latter being provided with connecting cross-bars e in which are formed in their upper surfaces longitudinal V-shaped grooves or channels a the purpose of which will be presently explained. On top of the bars a are strips of rubber, as at a on which the panes rest.

B designates screwsor pins secured on the face of the cross-bars a and side bars, a a, at predetermined intervals, and to these screws or pins are secured spring clips or spiders N, each of which is formed of one continuous piece of spring-wire, the middle or central doubled portion of which being first formed into a loop, 1), preferably of triangular form, the converging ends being then bent or coiled G designates glass panes, or lights proper,

which are disposed in rows, beginning at the top a of the frame, the rear ends of the panes of one row overlapping the front ends of those of the next lower row, the object of which is obvious. The side edges, however, of each of the panes do not touch those of the next adjacent pane, but rest upon the rubber strips a on the cross-bars a leaving a sufficient space, 9, between it and said adja cent pane laid thereon to allow water to flow therefrom into the groove or channel a in cross-bar a from whence it is distributed or carried off. The longitudinal grooves or channels a are continued from the point where they meet the end bar, a transversely across the latter, and are here preferably provided with a spout, d of any suitable material or form.

The operation or adjustment of my improved skylight is as follows: The clips or spiders, which are preferably bent into the proper shape apart from the frame, are first applied and the panes then laid in position, beginning at the top. I preferably apply the fixtures in this order, so as to utilize the spring-pressure of the clips. To such pressure, no less than to the clamping property of the clip, thepanes are dependent for support.

Should at any time a pane or number of panes become broken new ones may be readily inserted by simply removing the remains of the glass which has been injured and placing the new pane or panes in their position, the spring spiders or clips operating the same as formerly. In view of this important advantage I attach weight to the peculiar adaptation of the device to use in photograph-galleries or other places where much light is required to be admitted through the roof.

I do not limit myself to the exact form and construction of the device herein shown and described as an embodiment of myinvention, but reserve the right to make such changes and modifications as fairly fall. within the scope of my inventionas, for instance, I preferably make the pins or screws 13 of brass, galvanized iron, or other metal less likely to corrode from the action of the elements than Wrought or cast iron. By the peculiar manner of bending the clips from spring-Wire in the form shown and described the loop 1) serves to clamp the pane of glass down upon the frame,while the arms 6 With the engagingpoints catch the lower edge of the panes and prevent them sliding out of place.

.Vhat I claim is- 1. The combination of the bars (1., having the longitudinal grooves a, the panes resting on the edges of said bars adjacent to said grooves, the studs in said bars, and the clips mounted on said studs and engaging the panes, as set forth.

2. The combination of the bars to, the studs B, the panes resting on the bars, and the clips mounted on the studs and having the bearing-loops b, as set forth.

3. The combination of the bars a, the studs B, the panes resting on the bars, and the clips mounted on said studs and having the arms a, engaging the panes, as set forth.

4. The combination of the bars, the studs, the panes, and the clips having the loop Z2, coil (Z, arms 6, and hooks f, all arranged and operating substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN N. SMITH.

Witnesses:

CARROLL II. YoPP, HARDY SMITH. 

